Macon beacon., 1887-06-11
JAVA AND ITS PEOPLE.



Island in the Tropics.
Java is recorded as the most fertile |
and prosperous tropical island on the
globe. 1t is south Of Bornco, and the |
fourth island of the Malayan archipel-
ago in size, having an area Of 80, 260 |
square miles. 1t is a colonial posses
sion of Holland. The surface Of the
island is mountainous, Il range Of lofty
peaks running from one end of the
island to the other, and another range
skirting the south coast. All of these
mountains are of volcanic formation,
and there are on the island thirty-eight
volcanoes, the most of them constantly
active. Some Of the most terrible eT+--,-
tions on record have occurred on this
island. among which may be mentioned
the outbreaks Of the volcano Papanday-
ang i'll the year l772, of Galunggong in
1922 and Krakatoa in 1882 Between
the peaks of the mountains in the CEN
tral part of the island are several plat
eaus which are very fertile, and have II
delightful climate, owing to their ele-
vation above the hot districts of the
shore. Along the north side of the island
is 4 long, low and very fertile plain.
All Of the island is well watered. The
seasons are two, the wet and the dry,
and the temperature of the island is
very equable. All tropical fruits, birds
and animals abound in the lowlands,
and on the high plateaus all grains and
fruits Of temperate climates can be sue
ccssfully raised. Java is one of the
principal colfee-growing countries in
the world; sugar is next in Importance;
then comes rice, Of which two crops
are annually raised; indigo, pepper, tea
and tobacco are also exported. The
population of Java is estimated at over
1880, 600. About 10000 Europeans
reside on the island; there are also
about 100000 Chinese, and some 90
900 Arabs and other foreign oricntals;
| the rest are natives. The Jayanesc are
almost entirely occupied in agricul-
ture, though they have some knowledge
| Of the mechanic arts, and make bricks
| and tiles, build houses and boats, and
work in metals with some skill. The
women of the country also weave a
stout cotton cloth and make coarse
silk cloth from raw silk imported from
China. The ancestors of the present
race of Jayancse must have had con-
siderable knowledge of architecture,
| judging from the remarkable speci-
mems Of ancient temples, most Of them
in ruins, TO be seen throughout the ISL
and, but this knowledge has been en-
| tirely lost. The Javanesc have made
some progress in music, of which they
are passionately fond, and they have
both wind and stringcd instruments.
In religion the Javanesc are Mohamme.
dams, this faith having been established
among them by the Arabs in the iif'
teenth century. The principal unit il
| ,y,.,,st,o., poiiutp,' ,t.0 ,.il---, I..,,y,
officers are all elected by the people
and are charged witch the collection OF
the taxes and the maintenance Of pub
lie order. The native rulers are allowed
| by the Dutch to retain their rank and
nominal power as regents. but the real
power is in the Goycrnor-Gencral ap.
pointed by the Netherlands Govern
mcnt, who is assisted by a Nice-Prcsi
dent and Il council of four, and has hi,
orders direct from the King of Holland
-Chicag0 Inter OceaH.